What to remember when promoting your book...
Last week my guest told you how to hire an editor. This week learn how to utilize reviews, bloggers, and promotion services to promote your book. And don't forget to enter the giveaway found after this post!
Hey everyone! My name is Ly, and I am a book blogger over at HEA Bookshelf. Through my blog, I provide a number of services for authors besides reviewing and promoting books for fun. Today, I will discuss a few things I believe authors should keep in mind when publishing a book.
1. Developing a relationship with bloggers:
A working relationship is very important, in my opinion. Instead of sending out an informal request right off the bat, take a moment to at least chat with the blogger/reviewer first. Get to “know” whom you’re sending out a request to. It’s a friendlier approach and a way to start building a contact list. Also, avoid re-sending the same message multiple times. It may take us a moment to reply, but that doesn’t mean we did not see it. If you are messaging different book pages on Facebook, try to at least personalize the messages. We know when we are all getting the same exact request, especiallywhen it is sent more than once to the same blogger. For instance, I have a profile and a page on Facebook. I use my profile to manage the page. Well, I’ve gotten the same, identical request on both. This only tells me that they didn’t even bother to notice whom they were messaging. I get that we are all busy, but still, show that you care and that it isn’t ‘just another message’ being sent.
It is very important to also remember our manners. Be polite. Just as you don’t like someone sending you a message ‘demanding’ you to share something or read a book, we bloggers, don’t like it either. It leaves a bad and unprofessional taste.
On this point, I want to mention quickly the Street Teams. They can help an author, but just as well cause damage. A lot of bloggers strongly dislike when people post things on their “walls” without their consent or approval, so I would suggest you advise team against doing that. Also, instead of having them message bloggers, please consider doing that yourself. This goes hand-in-hand with what I mentioned above.
Finally, some bloggers even prefer to be emailed. Politely ask if you could send them an email with your information and go from there. Establish an author-blogger 2. Reviews:Reviews are super important, even negative ones when written respectfully. Not every book is for everyone. Please keep that in mind. Just because a reader did not like your book, doesn’t mean it isn’t any good or that you aren’t a talented writer. Simply, the book wasn’t for him/her.
Learn from the constructive criticism. Don’t automatically hate the blogger for being honest. Also, if you get a negative review and it is disrespectful, do not go and start World War III with that blogger. I highly recommend that you do not engage in any type of argument. It hurts, I know, but trust me. While people may be reading ‘bad things’ about your book, if the review is hurtful and mean, people will be talking about how unprofessional that blogger truly is. In turn, they lose credibility, not you or your book. But if you do choose to go after that blogger, then you may end up having other bloggers decline your requests in fear that if theydon’t like the book (even if they are truly professional about it), you may go after them.
Positive reviews. BLAST THEM. Promote them on your different social media accounts. Quote them to your fans and readers! Don’t rely on just bloggers to get the word out there. Which takes me to my next point….
3. Promotion:Promotion is key. You need to market yourself in this industry. Brand yourself and your books. Make it so that when people see an image or a cover, a book or series title, they automatically think of you. Link yourself to your books.
If you have an upcoming release date, BLAST it everywhere. Make readers aware. I recommend you make promotional graphics where three things are visible: release date, book title, and your name.
I think pre-sale promotion is important. It creates hype. Post teasers, quotes, graphics, introduce your characters, essentially, get your book out there before you hit ‘publish’. Let readers know it’s coming! Interact with your fans and readers, and upon the release go all out. Consider Release Day Blitz tours, make more teasers and promotional pictures, make your purchase link accessible to readers...in fact, BLAST that buy link. ARCs (Advance Reading Copy) work too....sometimes. You have to know who to target. Great reviews pre-release can be quoted and used to spike the curiosity in readers. However, be careful who you give ARCs to. You want to avoid getting a negative review before release.
Street Teams: a group of fans where they can share and promote you and your book(s). I mentioned this briefly in my first point, but I will elaborate more here. Be careful who you add. Establish rules to follow. Keep in mind that they should not spam bloggers or other authors while promoting you. Also, if they are representing you, make sure they do so professionally. I suggest that if a member of your street team is rude to a blogger while mentioning you or your books, that you either explain that this is not acceptable or simply, remove that person from your group. Have them post teasers of your books on their walls, have them share things with their friends. Do not have them randomly post about your books on the blog’s wall, unless they have the blogger’s consent. When a blog page writes a post asking about authors or books (for example “What book are you most excited to read?”) have your team members comment about your book. That is okay.You can also have them share your sales or new releases. Really, Street Teams are good when used properly.
4. Book Tours:I believe that if done properly and professionally, Blog Tours, Blitz Tours, Release Day Tours, ETC, can be an effective marketing strategy. They can get you a lot of exposure, but again, IF done properly. Do some research before hiring a blogger to organize any of these for you. Ask around. Get testimonials if needed. Follow on-going tours and see if that is something you would like to consider. Essentially, hire someone that knows what they are doing and doesn’t over-charge for their services.
These points are all my opinion based on different experiences I’ve had when working with authors. If you are interested in chatting with me, feel free to email me to: heabookshelf@gmail.com.
You can also find me here:Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/HEABSBloggerBlog’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HeaBookShelfBlog Website: http://heabookshelf.blogspot.comNew Facebook business page: HEA Book Tours, PR & More: https://www.facebook.com/HeaBookTours
Thanks!!
Hey everyone! My name is Ly, and I am a book blogger over at HEA Bookshelf. Through my blog, I provide a number of services for authors besides reviewing and promoting books for fun. Today, I will discuss a few things I believe authors should keep in mind when publishing a book.
1. Developing a relationship with bloggers:
A working relationship is very important, in my opinion. Instead of sending out an informal request right off the bat, take a moment to at least chat with the blogger/reviewer first. Get to “know” whom you’re sending out a request to. It’s a friendlier approach and a way to start building a contact list. Also, avoid re-sending the same message multiple times. It may take us a moment to reply, but that doesn’t mean we did not see it. If you are messaging different book pages on Facebook, try to at least personalize the messages. We know when we are all getting the same exact request, especiallywhen it is sent more than once to the same blogger. For instance, I have a profile and a page on Facebook. I use my profile to manage the page. Well, I’ve gotten the same, identical request on both. This only tells me that they didn’t even bother to notice whom they were messaging. I get that we are all busy, but still, show that you care and that it isn’t ‘just another message’ being sent.
It is very important to also remember our manners. Be polite. Just as you don’t like someone sending you a message ‘demanding’ you to share something or read a book, we bloggers, don’t like it either. It leaves a bad and unprofessional taste.
On this point, I want to mention quickly the Street Teams. They can help an author, but just as well cause damage. A lot of bloggers strongly dislike when people post things on their “walls” without their consent or approval, so I would suggest you advise team against doing that. Also, instead of having them message bloggers, please consider doing that yourself. This goes hand-in-hand with what I mentioned above.
Finally, some bloggers even prefer to be emailed. Politely ask if you could send them an email with your information and go from there. Establish an author-blogger 2. Reviews:Reviews are super important, even negative ones when written respectfully. Not every book is for everyone. Please keep that in mind. Just because a reader did not like your book, doesn’t mean it isn’t any good or that you aren’t a talented writer. Simply, the book wasn’t for him/her.
Learn from the constructive criticism. Don’t automatically hate the blogger for being honest. Also, if you get a negative review and it is disrespectful, do not go and start World War III with that blogger. I highly recommend that you do not engage in any type of argument. It hurts, I know, but trust me. While people may be reading ‘bad things’ about your book, if the review is hurtful and mean, people will be talking about how unprofessional that blogger truly is. In turn, they lose credibility, not you or your book. But if you do choose to go after that blogger, then you may end up having other bloggers decline your requests in fear that if theydon’t like the book (even if they are truly professional about it), you may go after them.
Positive reviews. BLAST THEM. Promote them on your different social media accounts. Quote them to your fans and readers! Don’t rely on just bloggers to get the word out there. Which takes me to my next point….
3. Promotion:Promotion is key. You need to market yourself in this industry. Brand yourself and your books. Make it so that when people see an image or a cover, a book or series title, they automatically think of you. Link yourself to your books.
If you have an upcoming release date, BLAST it everywhere. Make readers aware. I recommend you make promotional graphics where three things are visible: release date, book title, and your name.
I think pre-sale promotion is important. It creates hype. Post teasers, quotes, graphics, introduce your characters, essentially, get your book out there before you hit ‘publish’. Let readers know it’s coming! Interact with your fans and readers, and upon the release go all out. Consider Release Day Blitz tours, make more teasers and promotional pictures, make your purchase link accessible to readers...in fact, BLAST that buy link. ARCs (Advance Reading Copy) work too....sometimes. You have to know who to target. Great reviews pre-release can be quoted and used to spike the curiosity in readers. However, be careful who you give ARCs to. You want to avoid getting a negative review before release.
Street Teams: a group of fans where they can share and promote you and your book(s). I mentioned this briefly in my first point, but I will elaborate more here. Be careful who you add. Establish rules to follow. Keep in mind that they should not spam bloggers or other authors while promoting you. Also, if they are representing you, make sure they do so professionally. I suggest that if a member of your street team is rude to a blogger while mentioning you or your books, that you either explain that this is not acceptable or simply, remove that person from your group. Have them post teasers of your books on their walls, have them share things with their friends. Do not have them randomly post about your books on the blog’s wall, unless they have the blogger’s consent. When a blog page writes a post asking about authors or books (for example “What book are you most excited to read?”) have your team members comment about your book. That is okay.You can also have them share your sales or new releases. Really, Street Teams are good when used properly.
4. Book Tours:I believe that if done properly and professionally, Blog Tours, Blitz Tours, Release Day Tours, ETC, can be an effective marketing strategy. They can get you a lot of exposure, but again, IF done properly. Do some research before hiring a blogger to organize any of these for you. Ask around. Get testimonials if needed. Follow on-going tours and see if that is something you would like to consider. Essentially, hire someone that knows what they are doing and doesn’t over-charge for their services.
These points are all my opinion based on different experiences I’ve had when working with authors. If you are interested in chatting with me, feel free to email me to: heabookshelf@gmail.com.
You can also find me here:Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/HEABSBloggerBlog’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HeaBookShelfBlog Website: http://heabookshelf.blogspot.comNew Facebook business page: HEA Book Tours, PR & More: https://www.facebook.com/HeaBookTours
Thanks!!
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